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USA sets a deadline for Germany: What happens to Rosneft and the PCK refinery?
The USA is giving Germany a deadline to settle the Rosneft subsidiary. The federal government is striving for security of supply in the east.
USA sets a deadline for Germany: What happens to Rosneft and the PCK refinery?
A lot has happened in the world of international relations and German energy security in the last few weeks. The USA has given the federal government a deadline of six months to regulate the ownership of the German subsidiary of the Russian oil company Rosneft. In a surprising move, Washington is ready to temporarily exempt Rosneft Germany from US sanctions. This is reported by several sources, including the Bloomberg news agency, which relies on people familiar with the matter. Insiders also confirmed that there are already constructive discussions between those involved Time reported.
The situation should be understood against the background of the latest sanctions that US President Donald Trump imposed on October 22nd against the largest Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft in response to the Ukraine conflict. The pressure on the German Rosneft subsidiary, which has been under the trusteeship of the federal government since 2022, is growing. This trust administration has already been extended several times and is intended to ensure that business operations are no longer controlled from Russia and that no income is generated for the parent company. The aim is currently to gain control over the shares in the PCK refinery in Schwedt and other German plants in order to ensure security of supply in eastern Germany.
The importance of the PCK refinery
The PCK refinery plays a crucial role in supplying gasoline to the greater Berlin area and also supplies northeastern Germany with fuel, heating oil and kerosene. Although the federal government believes that the US sanctions are not directed against Rosneft's trustee-managed subsidiaries in Germany, works council chairman Dany Ruthenburg warns of a possible production stop. He calls for support from Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Federal Minister of Economics Katharina Reiche.
The developments are not without their problems, as the refinery has already had to look for alternative sources of supply following the withdrawal of Russian pipeline oil, including oil from Kazakhstan. This could test the adaptability of the company in the current complex situation. The trust administration has just been extended again in September 2025, and it remains to be seen how the discussions between the federal government and the US authorities will develop. According to the Federal Ministry of Economics, no money will flow to Russia, which is positive news for supply stability.
What does the federal government expect?
The US government is considering granting Rosneft Germany a non-renewable, temporary general license, which could help defuse the urgent situation. However, the question remains as to how the federal government can find a permanent solution for the shares without becoming legally entangled in complicated expropriation processes that are viewed as difficult. The pressure on Rosneft to sell shares increased around eleven months ago and time is running out to ensure security of supply in the long term.
The next few months could be crucial, both for Germany's energy security and for geopolitical relations with the USA and Russia. The development in this area remains exciting and of great interest to many, not only in Cologne.